Nanostructure including quantum dot, composite including the nanostructure, and display panel and electronic device including the composite

This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0127032 filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Sep. 27, 2021, and all the benefits accruing therefrom under 35 U.S.C. § 119, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

A nanostructure including quantum dots, a composite including the nanostructure, a display panel, and an electronic device are disclosed.

Quantum dots are nano-sized semiconductor nanocrystalline materials, the optical properties, for example, luminescent properties, of which can be controlled by changing the size thereof, the composition thereof, or a combination thereof. Luminescent properties of quantum dots may be applied to, e.g., used in, various electronic devices, for example, display devices. Quantum dots that are environmentally friendly and are capable of exhibiting improved physical properties when applied to, e.g., used in, for example, electronic devices have been developed, but there is a need to further improve light absorption characteristics and luminescent characteristics.

An embodiment relates to a nanostructure including a quantum dot capable of simultaneously increasing an absorption and light conversion efficiency of the quantum dot by increasing an excitation rate and a light emission rate (radiative decay rate) of the quantum dot.

An embodiment relates to a composite including a polymer matrix and a plurality of the nanostructures dispersed in the polymer matrix.

An embodiment relates to a display panel including the composite.

An embodiment relates to an electronic device including the display panel.

A nanostructure according to an embodiment includes a metal core, a metal shell surrounding the metal core, and a dielectric layer disposed between the metal core and the metal shell and including a quantum dot.

A size of the metal core may be about 5 nanometers (nm) to about 100 nm, a thickness of the dielectric layer may be about 10 nm to about 100 nm, and a thickness of the metal shell may be about 10 nm to about 100 nm.

The size of the metal core may be about 15 nm to about 50 nm, the thickness of the dielectric layer may be about 10 nm to about 50 nm, and the thickness of the metal shell may be about 15 nm to about 50 nm.

The metal core and the metal shell may each independently include a metal that is gold, silver, platinum, copper, palladium, aluminum, or an alloy of two or more thereof.

The dielectric layer may further include a metal oxide or an organic polymer.

The metal oxide may include SiO, TiO, ZrO, AlO, CuO (0<x<2), or a combination thereof.

The quantum dot may have an emission peak wavelength of about 510 nm to about 550 nm.

The quantum dot may have an emission peak wavelength of about 600 nm to about 650 nm.

The nanostructure may have an absorption peak or absorption edge in the wavelength range of about 400 nm to about 550 nm.

The quantum dot may include Group 3 element and a Group 5 element of the periodic table of elements and may not include cadmium.

The quantum dot may have a core-shell structure including a core including the Group 3 element and the Group 5 element of the periodic table of elements, and a shell disposed on the core and including a Group 2 element and a Group 6 element of the periodic table of elements.

The quantum dot may have a core-shell structure including a core including a semiconductor nanocrystal including indium and phosphorus, and a shell disposed on the core and including a semiconductor nanocrystal including zinc and selenium.

The semiconductor nanocrystal forming the shell may further include sulfur.

The quantum dot may include an organic ligand on the surface, and the organic ligand includes a compound having a carboxyl group at a terminal end, a compound having a hydroxy group at a terminal end, or a combination thereof.

An average particle size of the quantum dot may be greater than or equal to about 5.5 nm.

A composite according to an embodiment includes a polymer matrix and a plurality of nanostructures dispersed in the polymer matrix, wherein the plurality of nanostructures include the nanostructure according to an embodiment.

A display panel according to an embodiment includes a color conversion layer including a plurality of regions including a color conversion region, and the composite of the nanostructures is disposed in the color conversion region.

The display panel may further include a light emitting panel including a light emitting source, and the color conversion region may include a first color conversion region configured to convert light emitted from the light emitting panel into light having a first emission spectrum.

The color conversion region may further include a second color conversion region configured to convert light emitted from the light emitting panel into light having a second emission spectrum different from the first emission spectrum.

The first emission spectrum may be a green emission spectrum having an emission peak wavelength between about 500 nm and about 550 nm, and the second emission spectrum may be a red emission spectrum having an emission peak wavelength between about 600 nm and about 650 nm.

An electronic device according to an embodiment includes the display panel.

A method of manufacturing a nanostructure according to an embodiment includes forming a first silica dielectric layer on a nano-sized metal core; adding a plurality of quantum dots to the first silica dielectric layer; forming a second silica dielectric layer on the quantum dots; and forming a metal shell on the second silica dielectric layer to manufacture the nanostructure.

A nanostructure according to an embodiment includes a nano-sized metal core, a metal shell surrounding the metal core, and a quantum dot in a dielectric layer formed in a gap between the metal core and the metal shell, and a plasmonic effect of the metal core and the metal shell around, e.g., surrounding, the dielectric layer including the quantum dot is maximized around, e.g., on, the dielectric layer where, e.g., in which, the quantum dot is present. Excitation energy of the quantum dot included in the nanostructure may increase, a light absorption of the quantum dot may increase, and the luminescent characteristics of the quantum dot may be improved. As described herein, the nanostructures including the quantum dot with improved light absorption and luminescence characteristics may be dispersed in a polymer matrix to form various display devices in the form of a composite, and may be advantageously applied to, e.g., used in, for example, biological labeling such as a biosensor or bioimaging, a photodetector, a solar cell, a hybrid composite, or the like.

Advantages and characteristics of this disclosure, and a method for achieving the same, will become evident referring to the following embodiments together with the drawings attached hereto. However, the embodiments should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. If not defined otherwise, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) in the specification may be defined as commonly understood by one skilled in the art. The terms defined in a generally-used, e.g., non-technical, dictionary may not be interpreted ideally or exaggeratedly unless clearly defined. In addition, unless explicitly described to the contrary, the word “comprise,” and variations such as “comprises” or “comprising,” will be understood to imply the inclusion of stated elements but not the exclusion of any other elements.

In the drawings, the thickness of layers, films, panels, regions, etc., are exaggerated for clarity. Like reference numerals designate like elements throughout the specification.

It will be understood that when an element such as a layer, film, region, or substrate is referred to as being “on” another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on” another element, there are no intervening elements present.

It will be understood that, although the terms “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers, and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer, or section from another element, component, region, layer, or section. Thus, “a first element,” “component,” “region,” “layer,” or “section” discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer, or section without departing from the teachings herein.

Furthermore, relative terms, such as “lower” or “bottom” and “upper” or “top,” may be used herein to describe one element's relationship to another element as illustrated in the Figures. It will be understood that relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in addition to the orientation depicted in the Figures. For example, if the device in one of the figures is turned over, elements described as being on the “lower” side of other elements would then be oriented on “upper” sides of the other elements. The exemplary term “lower,” can therefore, encompasses both an orientation of “lower” and “upper,” depending on the particular orientation of the figure. Similarly, if the device in one of the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements would then be oriented “above” the other elements. The exemplary terms “below” or “beneath” can, therefore, encompass both an orientation of above and below.

“About” as used herein is inclusive of the stated value and means within an acceptable range of deviation for the particular value as determined by one of ordinary skill in the art, considering the measurement in question and the error associated with measurement of the particular quantity (i.e., the limitations of the measurement system). For example, “about” can mean within one or more standard deviations or within +20%, 10% or 5% of the stated value.

Exemplary embodiments are described herein with reference to cross section illustrations that are schematic illustrations of idealized embodiments. As such, variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to be expected. Thus, embodiments described herein should not be construed as limited to the particular shapes of regions as illustrated herein but are to include deviations in shapes that result, for example, from manufacturing. For example, a region illustrated or described as flat may, typically, have rough and/or nonlinear features. Moreover, sharp angles that are illustrated May be rounded. Thus, the regions illustrated in the figures are schematic in nature and their shapes are not intended to illustrate the precise shape of a region and are not intended to limit the scope of the present claims.

Further, the singular includes the plural unless mentioned otherwise. As used herein, “a”, “an,” “the,” and “at least one” do not denote a limitation of quantity, and are intended to include both the singular and plural, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. For example, “an element” has the same meaning as “at least one element,” unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. “At least one” is not to be construed as limiting “a” or “an.” “Or” means “and/or.” As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

As used herein, a number of carbon atoms in a group or a molecule may be referred to as a subscript (e.g., C) or as C6 to C50.

Hereinafter, as used herein, when a definition is not otherwise provided, “substituted” refers to replacement of a hydrogen of a compound or the corresponding moiety by a C1 to C30 alkyl group, a C2 to C30 alkenyl group, a C2 to C30 alkynyl group, a C6 to C30 aryl group, a C7 to C30 alkylaryl group, a C1 to C30 alkoxy group, a C1 to C30 heteroalkyl group, a C3 to C30 heteroalkylaryl group, a C3 to C30 cycloalkyl group, a C3 to C15 cycloalkenyl group, a C6 to C30 cycloalkynyl group, a C2 to C30 heterocycloalkyl group, a halogen (—F, —Cl, —Br or —I), a hydroxy group (—OH), a nitro group (—NO), a cyano group (—CN), an amino group (—NRR′, wherein R and R′ are each independently hydrogen or C1 to C6 alkyl group), an azido group (—N), an amidino group (—C(═NH)NH), a hydrazino group (—NHNH), a hydrazono group (═N(NH)), an aldehyde group (—C(═O)H), a carbamoyl group (—C(O)NH), a thiol group (—SH), an ester group (—C(═O) OR, wherein R is a C1 to C6 alkyl group or a C6 to C12 aryl group), a carboxyl group (—COOH) or a salt thereof (—C(═O)OM, wherein M is an organic or inorganic cation), a sulfonic acid group (—SOH) or a salt thereof (—SOM, wherein M is an organic or inorganic cation), a phosphoric acid group (—POH) or a salt thereof (—POMH or —POM, wherein M is an organic or inorganic cation), or a combination thereof. The total number of carbon atoms in a compound, moiety, or group is inclusive of any substituents, e.g., a cyanoethyl group is a C3 alkyl group.

As used herein, when a definition is not otherwise provided, “hydrocarbon” or “hydrocarbon group” refers to a group including, e.g., containing, carbon and hydrogen (e.g., an aliphatic group such as alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, or an aromatic group such as an aryl group). The hydrocarbon group may be a monovalent group or a group having a valence of greater than one formed by removal of a, e.g., one or more, hydrogen atoms from, alkane, alkene, alkyne, or arene. In the hydrocarbon group, a, e.g., at least one, methylene may be replaced by an oxide moiety, a carbonyl moiety, an ester moiety, —NH—, or a combination thereof. Unless otherwise stated to the contrary, the hydrocarbon (alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, or aryl) group may have 1 to 60, 2 to 32, 3 to 24, or 4 to 12 carbon atoms.

As used herein, when a definition is not otherwise provided, “monovalent organic functional group” for example, “monovalent organic acids,” refers to a C1 to C30 alkyl group, a C2 to C30 alkenyl group, a C2 to C30 alkynyl group, a C6 to C30 aryl group, a C7 to C30 alkylaryl group, a C1 to C30 alkoxy group, a C1 to C30 heteroalkyl group, a C3 to C30 heteroalkylaryl group, a C3 to C30 cycloalkyl group, a C3 to C15 cycloalkenyl group, a C6 to C30 cycloalkynyl group, or a C2 to C30 heterocycloalkyl group.

As used herein, when a definition is not otherwise provided, “hetero” refers to inclusion of a, e.g., at least one, heteroatom, for example, one to three heteroatoms, of N, O, S, Si, or P.

As used herein, when a definition is not otherwise provided, “alkenyl” refers to a linear or branched monovalent hydrocarbon group having a, e.g., one or more, carbon-carbon double bond. Unless specified otherwise, an alkenyl group has from 2 to 50 carbon atoms, or 2 to 18 carbon atoms, or 2 to 12 carbon atoms.

As used herein, when a definition is not otherwise provided, “alkoxy” refers to an alkyl group linked via an oxygen (i.e., alkyl-O—), such as a methoxy, ethoxy, or sec-butyloxy group.

As used herein, when a definition is not otherwise provided, “alkyl” refers to a linear or branched saturated monovalent hydrocarbon group (methyl, ethyl hexyl, etc.). Unless specified otherwise, an alkyl group has from 1 to 50 carbon atoms, or 1 to 18 carbon atoms, or 1 to 12 carbon atoms.

As used herein, when a definition is not otherwise provided, “alkylene group” refers to a straight or branched saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon group having at least two valences and optionally substituted with a, e.g., at least one, substituent.

As used herein, when a definition is not otherwise provided, “alkynyl” refers to a linear or branched monovalent hydrocarbon group having a, e.g., one or more, carbon-carbon triple bond. Unless specified otherwise, an alkenyl group has from 2 to 50 carbon atoms, or 2 to 18 carbon atoms, or 2 to 12 carbon atoms.

As used herein, when a definition is not otherwise provided, “amine” or “amine group” may be —NRR, (each R is independently hydrogen, a C1-C12 alkyl group, a C7-C20 alkylarylene group, a C7-C20 arylalkylene group, or a C6-C18 aryl group).

As used herein, when a definition is not otherwise provided, “aryl” refers to a group formed by removal of a, e.g., at least one, hydrogen from an aromatic group (e.g., a phenyl or naphthyl group). Unless specified otherwise, an aryl group has from 6 to 50 carbon atoms, or 6 to 18 carbon atoms, or 6 to 12 carbon atoms.